Samuel Ricketts arrived as both versatile defender and new Wolves captain when becoming Kenny Jackett’s first signing for the club in July, 2013.

Ricketts, who enjoyed success under Jackett during a two-year spell at Swansea, had his contract with Bolton cancelled and turned down interest from several other clubs to add his experience to what was expected to be a young and vibrant Wolves team.

A versatile defender who has played in all positions across the back line, Ricketts had won 48 caps for Wales prior to joining Wolves and was still a regular in the international squad.

He was well known to Jackett, who plucked him from the non-league and Telford United to join Swansea City in May, 2004.

It was while working under Jackett in South Wales that Ricketts started to forge an impressive reputation, including winning the first of those Welsh caps, qualifying via his Grandmother having been born in Buckinghamshire.

Swansea won promotion from League Two during Ricketts’ first season at the club, and only missed out on making it two in succession by losing in the League One play-off final on penalties against Barnsley in the following campaign.

In the summer of 2006 Ricketts joined Hull City, and at the end of his first season helped the Tigers to play-off success against Bristol City which took the club into the Premier League.

He then played a major part as Hull secured their Premier League status the following season, but in the summer of 2009 made the move to Bolton.

During his four years with Bolton he made 114 appearances and scored one goal.

But that goal will be well remembered by Wolves fans, as he returned from a long term injury to score Bolton’s Goal of the Season from distance in the 1-1 draw between the two sides on the last day of 2011.

Ricketts, who started his career with Oxford United and has also appeared in central midfield on several occasions, had made 458 career appearances scoring 13 goals prior to moving to Molineux.